GFP chief justifies appointing ST leader Navelim block head

Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai launching a tractor for the benefit of local farmers under the banner of Fatorda Agro Works.

Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar

MARGAO

Even as the party’s decision to set up a block in Navelim has raised political eyebrows, bringing the regional party face-to-face with the Congress, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday he has done nothing wrong in appointing a Scheduled tribe leader as the head of the Navelim Goa Forward block.

In fact, Sardesai reminded the Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has given a diktat to the Congress party to give 50 per cent representation to the SC, ST and OBCs at the district party level in a bid to empower these sections of the society. “The Goa Forward party has taken the step in the right direction by appointing a ST leader to head the Navelim Goa Forward block. The Fatorda unit of the Goa Forward party is headed by Peter Fernandes, hailing from the ST community. The regional party believes in empowering the Mull Goemkars in the state”, he told the media on the side lines of the program held to launch a new agricultural initiative under the banner of Fatorda Agro Works. Sardesai handed over a high-powered tractor to local farmers with a vision to bring cultivation back to all fields in Fatorda, including those acquired by the government.

He said those who say that Goa Forward party’s  move to enter Navelim and other constituencies will affect opposition unity should come on the ground and hear the grievances of the people. In fact, Sardesai made it clear that opposition unity had ensured the victory of South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes in the 2024 Lok Sabha election . “Because of opposition unity, Viriato had got a majority in Fatorda. Because of opposition unity, the BJP lead in Margao got drastically reduced.  These people need not teach us what is opposition unity”, he reminded. 

Joined by his wife Usha Sardesai, Goa Forward-backed councillors of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), and local supporters, Sardesai flagged off the tractor at the fields near the South Goa District Hospital. “This is an initiative of the farmers, for the farmers. We are giving them full support  including a driver, fuel, and the infrastructure needed to cultivate every inch of fallow land in Fatorda,” he said.

The MLA explained that the newly launched tractor is a 48 HP, four-wheel-drive vehicle capable of handling all types of terrain. “After completing the work in Fatorda, we will extend this facility to other areas outside the constituency. Our goal is to make Goa green again,” he declared.